Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

And I will be brief. The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, did not want to be embarrassed by thousands of protesters outside of this parliament, in the run-up to an election, as Prime Minister Abe addressed the parliament inside. He did not want to have to speak to Prime Minister Abe about the slaughter of Australian whales in Australian waters before their migration north along Australian coasts. Next year we will have fewer humpback whales not only because of Prime Minister Abe’s backing of the slaughter but also because of Prime Minister Howard’s failure to take any action to prevent it, such as in the International Court of Justice.

Prime Minister Abe is having trouble at home; this arrangement was convenient for him. Prime Minister Howard did not want to face the embarrassment of his failure to protect Australia’s whales against this slaughter by the Japanese whaling fleet in front of the Australian populace in the run-up to the election. The question I put to the government is: why isn’t Prime Minister Helen Clark, of New Zealand, invited to address this parliament? Are we to see only right-wing, conservative prime ministers from around the world addressing the parliament? Why not our neighbour? Why not the long-serving prime minister of our neighbouring country, New Zealand? When will she get to address this parliament—or is it only people who have views consistent with those of Prime Minister Howard who get the honour? I think it is time that we had some independent way of judging who comes to address the House of Representatives. I think we could be more eclectic about it rather than having this selective request from Prime Minister Howard.